The Basics
Friendship Circle works with adaptive bike companies from around the world to provide adaptive bikes to children and teens with special needs. The Great Bike Giveaway provides three ways a child can receive a bike.
Most Votes
The registrant with the most votes in their selected bike category will receive a free adaptive bike that they selected.
Random Drawing
Anyone who receives 50 votes or more will automatically be entered into a drawing for the bike they selected when registering.
Fundraising
If a registrant does not have the most votes, or they do not win in the drawing, they can fundraise to receive a bike. Friendship Circle works with adaptive bike companies from around the world to secure discounted pricing and provides a fundraising platform, making it easier for families to raise money for a bike.
Timeline
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
at 12:00pm (EST)
Registration & Voting Start
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
at 12:00pm (EDT)
Voting Ends
Thursday, March 21, 2024
at 12:00pm (EDT)
Winners with the most votes & Winners by drawing are announced
Thursday, April 11, 2024
at 12:00pm (EDT)
Fundraising Ends & Great Bike Giveaway Concludes
*All times are Eastern Time
The Process
Step One: Decide on the appropriate bike for your child
The bikes offered through the Great Bike Giveaway are designed to suit the unique needs of individuals with special needs. Make sure to view all of the bikes available at www.greatbikegiveaway.com/bikes. Make sure to consult with your child’s physical therapist on the most appropriate bike for your child.
Step Two: Register for the Great Bike Giveaway
In order to collect votes and raise money for a bike, you will need to complete a registration form (registration will open on Feruary 27.) The form will ask you for contact information as well as other campaign-related information. You will then select the bike you will try to win and/or fundraise for. The cost of the bike will be your fundraising goal.
Register
Step Three: Set Up Your Campaign Page
Once you have registered you can set up your campaign page. Add pictures, create a custom link, share your story and much more!
Step Four: Start Collecting Votes and Fundraising!
You will now need to collect as many votes and/or donations as possible to help get you a bike! Visit our resource section to learn how you can get the word out about your campaign.
Resources
Six Benefits of the Great Bike Giveaway Platform
Six Benefits of the Great Bike Giveaway Platform
The Great Bike Giveaway provides many benefits that will make it easier than ever to secure a bike for a child or teen with special needs.
1. Discounted Pricing
Working with the sponsoring adaptive bike companies, Friendship Circle is able to provide a significant discount to people who participate in the Great Bike Giveaway.
2. Raising Together
Raising money by yourself for your own needs can be an uncomfortable experience at best. Our platform brings together hundreds of individuals all working towards the same goal of getting a bike for their child. In addition, the Great Bike Giveaway platform makes it easy to raise money for multiple people, removing the stigma of raising money for just yourself.
3. Amazing Fundraising Tools
Friendship Circle provides a complete set of fundraising tools that will give people the ability to raise money more effectively and encourage people to join their fundraising team.
4. Marketing Help
Friendship Circle will provide a number of marketing tools and marketing support to help you reach out to your friends, family members, employers, the media, and more. In addition, Friendship Circle is planning a marketing campaign to raise awareness and encourage as many people as possible to get involved and donate.
5. We help you reach your goal
With the Great Bike Giveaway, participants may be able to receive a bike provided they have raised at least 50% of their goal.
6. Matching Opportunities
The Great Bike Giveaway provides a matching tool where foundations and companies can offer a match for any money raised.
Three Most Asked Questions About The Great Bike Giveaway
Three Most Asked Questions About The Great Bike Giveaway
The Great Bike Giveaway provides many benefits that will make it easier than ever to secure a bike for a child or teen with special needs.
1. What happens if I don’t reach my goal?
If you raise at least 50% of your goal you will still have a chance of receiving a bike.
At the end of the campaign, general donations from a number of different sources will be gathered together and distributed to people who are close to reaching their goal. Participants that are closer to reaching their goal will receive donated funds first followed by participants who are farther from their goal until there are no more funds left. To be eligible for these funds you will need to raise at least 50% of your goal.
Donations come from several different sources:
- Any participants that raise more money than their goal will go towards others who have not yet reached their goal.
- General donations made to Great Bike Giveaway that are not given to a specific participant.
- There will also be additional bikes donated by some of the bike companies.
Still have questions? Make sure to email us at gbghelp@friendshipcircle.org
2. Is the Great Bike Giveaway structured differently from previous years?
The Great Bike Giveaway structure was changed in 2017. In previous years the focus was on receiving as many votes as possible in order to win a bike. Last year we eliminated voting and will be focused on crowdfunding for people to receive a bike. This provides more transparency and enables participants to fundraise specifically for their child.
3. How do donations work?
- All money donated via the Great Bike Giveaway platform will a tax-deductible donation to Friendship Circle.
- Once a fundraising goal is reached Friendship Circle distributes the funds to the selected adaptive bike company.
- The bike companies will in turn be in touch with the fundraiser to arrange delivery.
- All donations are tax-deductible. Friendship Circle is a 501c(3) non-profit organization. After you a donation is made the donor will receive an email receipt. If the donation is made by check a receipt will be mailed. If you are donating to a family member’s fundraising campaign, we suggest you speak to your tax advisor.
